Nissan Consumer Affairs Oil Cooler Response

wstar

This is the scary gray area. I totally understand that if I install an aftermarket cooler, and it blows an oil line, loses pressure, and destroys the engine before I notice and shut it down, that's not a warranty repair for Nissan. What I'm afraid of is when I install an oil cooler, and something goes wrong with my VVEL 10K miles later due to a factory defect that has nothing to do with oil temps, and they deny the claim because an oil cooler was attached to the engine.

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Wally

For those of you that have not seen temps above 225 take the car out drive 70 to 75 in 5th gear for about 20 minutes with a few spirited revs and watch the temp climb,

butters167

Like we've said I think nissan will have a hard time denying a factory defect that has nothing to do with the oil, oil temp, or oil cooler just because an oil cooler is installed.
Either way if that does happen just take an hour and remove it before you take it in. I know the computer can be checked to tell if some mods have been done or if the car has been driven hard but I don't think they can prove you had an oil cooler on if you remove everything.

khtso

Now that could be a potential legal claim. It would, however, be an uphill battle. If you install oil cooler and engine fails and they won't honor your warranty, you can then make a claim against them to get them to fix it. You would, however, have to prove that the oil cooler did not cause the problem. Nissan obviously has a billion lawyers and engineers and experts that they would put up there to state that yes, of course it was the oil cooler that caused all your problems. Then again, with a company that size they'll offer a settlement by fixing your car, but have some sort of non-disclosure agreement in place. Either way, unless and until there is some measurable harm to you, there's no point in threatening to sue.

Let's all sign petitions and mail them to Nissan. In addition, get everyone on the messageboard who have had issues both on the track and off, along with any definitive statements (in writing) made my Nissan, and mail them off to every Auto reviewer in the country.

butters167

I have been on some spirited drives and the temp did jump up to 225 pretty fast but didn't go higher, guess I'm lucky so far.

No offense but why would I drive 75 in 5th for 20 minutes straight, if I'm going to be going 75 for that long I would have shifted into 6th about 19 minutes ago that's what it's for. I guess I would if I wanted to test the temp. issue but I try not to push an issue unless it happens on its own.

semtex

Speaking of PR -- this could be a coup for a competitor. Take Hyundai, for example. Start a commercial showing a clock about to hit 5pm, with the narrator saying something like: "At Hyundai, we enjoy playing with the other kids on the block at the end of the day." Then the minute hand ticks over to 5pm, they pan to a 370Z and Genesis Coupe carving up some mountain roads, tails hanging out around curves, etc., just two drivers having a blast. Then the narrator says: "Unfortunately, some kids have early curfews." Immediately pan to a shot of the Z coasting in limp-mode, then pan to a shot of the oil temp gauge pegged at 280, and the Z's clock reading 5:20.

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SiXK

I think you are 100% correct here. Some well written letters to the car magazines that tested the oil-cooler equipped cars would probabaly be published, and the magazines would probably go to Nissan for a comment on why they equipped press cars with oil coolers but will not allow them on customers cars.

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bluzman

JMO...but removing aftermarket components from a vehicle before taking it into a dealer for possible warranty work because you're worried that the aftermarket component might be perceived (or perhaps really is) the cause of the problem comes a lot closer to fraud and fraudulent business practices than anything Nissan has done so far. Also seems like a waste of energy to be talking about law suits when AFAIK from reading this forum, nobody has incurred any damage. In fact, IIRC, I haven't read of anyone here actually even going into limp mode except possibly while tracking. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I do agree with the guys who I think suggested that generating adverse publicity is a better way to go. Like I said, JMO.

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butters167

I agree and lets boycott the service departments for maint. I do my own maint. anyway but we shouldn't give them anymore of our money until they learn a little more about customer relations.

wstar

I'm with you on this. I've intentionally pushed mine to 260 on the street by staying in a higher gear than necessary while cruising on the highway for a while, but I've never had 260 "just happen" to me when I'm driving like I always do (which is pretty damned aggresive a lot of the time, but on the street there are always limitations, like safety issues, other cars, poor pavement quality in areas, likely speed trap areas, etc). The 6MT guys seem to be slightly worse off perhaps, and we haven't yet seen the worst heat of the summer, those are other factors. But still, I'm not sure that anything that could be defined as reasonable street driving is going to limp-mode this car (which is 280+ if I understand correctly for the first limp mode, which I've never hit). Maybe guys driving in the middle of the desert in august aggressively will see it, but not most of us.

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NotmyGTR

CPU can not be checked on the Z. The tell tale black box is only on the R35 GTR, and not on the Z. As far as the cpu being checked, there is nothing to check, unless you get it tuned to change you fuel and air mixture. But thats not really necessary unless you add larger injectors and a turbo or two.

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FuszNissan

I drive 15-20 miles at 80-85 mph in 5 gear every day to and from work, never been above 225

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butters167

bluzman, it would only be fraud if the part really did cause the problem, in that case someone should just face the music for installing the part. I would take full responsibility if what I did broke something. Otherwise if its their defect they should fix it.

I do agree thought that we're just wasting our time complaining until something actually happens, but I don't have anything better to do right now I stuck at a desk until 5:00.

NotmyGTR

Only an hour and 15 min to go bro. Hang in there. Since I like to look out for people........I will have a beer for you right now.

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spearfish25

I love it. I'm writing a letter to my three top car mags tonight. While I've enjoyed the great reviews of my car, it's time to let Nissan know they have to please their consumers...they can't have their cake and eat it too (neglect to install a cooler but then not allow us to install one). The quality control engineer who I spoke with was quite frustrated about the negative PR they had gotten and that was 3 weeks ago. Clearly, this will be the way to fight the battle from here on out.

Yes, 95% of the time my car is fine on the street. The other 5% of street driving is hot but no limp mode. It's not the dead of summer yet, but it's coming. My one track experience was limited by engine temps all day while all the other production cars on the track had no problems. It's downright embarrassing...it's only fair Nissan gets to answer for their enthusiast sportscar that can only perform under grocery store run conditions.